Man Guilty In Shooting

July 26, 1985|By Mary Anderson, Staff writer

A Broward Circuit Court jury convicted a Hollywood man Thursday of third- degree murder, partially agreeing with a defense argument that a gun may have discharged accidentally during a violent struggle.

Jerome Roosevelt Baldwin, 27, killed Charles Hubbard, 34, of Hollywood, Dec. 15 after they argued, then fought over some cocaine Hubbard wanted from Baldwin, according to witnesses.

Baldwin was charged with second-degree murder for shooting Hubbard once in the upper chest at close range. Defense attorney Don Tenbrook contended it was an accident, and that the fight arose from the victim`s insistence on getting the cocaine without paying for it.

After about 1 1/2 hours of deliberation, the jury decided Baldwin had committed the lesser offense of third-degree murder, pertaining to a death caused in the commission of another felony, in this case aggravated assault.